Drinking container holder having means for attachment to an object



Oct. 6, 1970 A. T. LLOYD 3,532,318

DRINKING CONTAINER HOLDER HAVING MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT TO AN OBJECT Flled Sept 20, 1968 I AT TORNEYS United States Patent 3,532,318 DRINKING CONTAINER HOLDER HAVING MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT TO AN OBJECT Ambrose T. Lloyd, 1355 Buchanan Place, Minneapolis, Minn. 55421 Filed Sept. 20, 1968, Ser. No. 761,039 Int. Cl. A47 g 23/02 US. Cl. 248-311 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to an improvement in a drinking container holder. With the great increase in outdoor entertaining and eating where table space on which to place drinking glasses and cups is at a premium and containers tend to fall over, there is a need for a dewce to adequately hold a glass or cup. The invention herein includes an open top member having side leg members each formed with a bottom portion. The top member includes extension members having offset portions whereby the same may have hooking engagement with open means formed in an object such as a table, chair arm or the like. With a glass in the holder, the same will not tip unless the object on which it is held is tipped.

It is a further object of the invention to provide shoulder means intermediate the ends of the side legs and upon which a cup may be positioned in lieu of a glass positioned on the bottom portions of the side legs. The invention further includes resilient extension members which may be deflected or sprung whereby the same may accommodate different size openings in the object on which the holder is attached.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container holder embodying the invention in engagement with opening means of a table top;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the holder shown in FIG. 1 with the extension members shown in a different position in broken lines;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the holder in engagement with a table top, only a portion of the top being shown with the same in section;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the holder; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the holder A includes an open top member that is arcuate in outline in the form of the partial ring formed of wire and which extends approximately 300. Extending from one point of termination of the ring 10 and as part thereof is the extension 12, and extending from the other point of termination of the ring is the companion extension 14. The extensions 12 and 14 are resilient and substantially parallel to a diameter of the partial ring 10 and substantially parallel to each other. The resilient extension 15 may be deflected for placement in receiving openings formed in an object.

Each extension 12 and 14 includes a main portion 15 and depending therefrom a right angular portion 16 which terminates at its lower end in the right angular offset portion -18 parallelly disposed to the main portion 15. Secured to and depending from the partial ring 10 are four side legs 20, 22, 24 and 26. Each side leg includes 3,532,318 Patented Oct. 6, 1970 an upper portion 28 which terminates at its lower end in a right angle portion 30 forming a shoulder which terminates in a depending lower portion 32 formed at a right angle to the portion 30. Each lower leg portion 32 terminates at its lower end in a right angular horizontal portion 34 which forms a shoulder. Each of the legs is spaced equidistant on the partial ring 10, and each of the portions 34 is of a length whereby the same abut at the inner end where the same are welded as at x to collectively form a bottom. The partial ring 10 has formed therein the depressed arcuate portion 36.

In use, the holder A is held in the hand and the offset portion 18 of each extension is inserted downwardly through the opening 38 of the top 40 of the table T. The holder is then pivoted to a horizontal position whereby the offset portion 18 of each leg engages under the top portion 42. The main portion 15 of each extension bears on the table top portion 44. As a result the holder A is supported at the edge of the table top with the longitudinal axis of the holder at a right angle to the table top.

A drinking glass G illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 3 is positioned within the side leg portions 32 and upon the horizontal portions 34. A cup illustrated as C in broken lines in FIG. 3 may be held in the holder placing the bottom of the cup upon the shoulders 30 of the side legs 20-26 with the handle of the cup accommodated by the arcuate depressed portion 36 of the partial ring 10, FIG. 3. Thus, with the above holder A a cup or glass may be supported inan upright position at the edge of a table or any object having openings substantially in the nature of openings 38. Such opening means can be formed in the arm of a chair, as an example of use.

The members making up the holder may be formed of wire and covered with a coating of plastic, rubber or the like to protect the object on which the holder is mounted, improve engagement of the extensions 12 and 14 with the object and protect the container positioned in the holder. The holder A may also be molded as a one piece plastic unit.

In FIG. 5 is shown a further embodiment of holder B wherein is formed the top member 46 which includes the partial ring 48 extending about 300. Extending from one point of termination of the ring 48 and as part thereof is the extension 50, and extend-from the other point of termination of the ring is the companion extension 52. The extensions 50 and 52 are substantially parallel to a diameter of the partial ring 48 and substantially parallel to each other. Each extension 50 and 52 includes a main portion 54 and depending therefrom a right angular portion 56 which terminates at its lower end in the right angular offset portion 58 parallelly disposed to the main portion 54. In use, the holder B is held in the hand, and the offset portion 58 of each extension is inserted downwardly through an opening formed in an object such as table T or another object. The holder B is then pivoted to a horizontal position whereby the offset portion 58 of each extension engages under and in contact with the object. With the holder B in the position above described, a glass may be placed in the partial ring 48 or an article placed upon the partial ring 48 for support thereof.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having now therefore fully illustrated and described W my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

-1. A drinking container holder for connection with openings normally disposed vertically in a horizontal object, comprising:

(a) a horizontally open top member arcuate in outline 3 to form a partial ring having first and second termination points; (b) a first extension comprising:

(1) a main portion having one end connected to the first termination point of the partial ring and arranged to extend over the horizontal object to bear on the top of the horizontal object;

(2) a right angle portion depending from the other end of the main portion and arranged to pass through openings normally disposed vertically in the horizontal object from the top; and

(3) an offset portion connected to the lower end of the right angle portion and arranged to extend under the horizontal object and engage the horizontal object;

() a second extension comprising:

(1) a main portion, spaced from the main portion of the first extension, having one end connected to the second termination point of the partial ring and arranged to extend over the horizontal object to bear on the top of the horizontal object;

(2) a right angle portion depending from the other end of the main portion and arranged to vertically pass through openings normally disposed vertically in the horizontal object from the top; and

(3) an oflset portion connected to the lower end of the right angle portion and arranged to extend under the horizontal object and engage the horizontal object;

(d) side leg means depending from the top member; (e) bottom means formed on the lower ends of the side leg means; and (f) shoulder means formed intermediate the ends of the side legs and adjacent the top thereof to allow the shallow outline of a cup to be supported by the top portion of the side leg means and the shoulder means while allowing a glass to pass the shoulders and be supported by the full length of the side leg means and the bottom means. 2. The drinking container holder of claim 1, wherein the first extension and the second extension comprise parallelly disposed wires.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 57,989 5/1921 Mosgrove 24-302 X 1,077,027 10/1913 Austin 248-302 X 1,345,463 7/1920 Sandberg 248-311 X 3,141,937 7/1964 Edward 248-315 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner I. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

